Policy initiative to develop Tourism infrastructure

The Central government in its recent policy initiative has identified 20 mega tourism circuits for infrastructure development in order to enhance the tourist potential of the country.

With the ever-growing tourism sector in terms of increasing number of both foreign and domestic tourists, the Ministry of Tourism has finally marked out several key tourists’ destinations to develop the existing infrastructure, which are key driver in raising the number of tourists further.

As India is counted among the top 10 tourist destinations of the world and taking the fact into account that tourism is the third largest net earner of foreign exchange, and also employs largest number of man power, government expenditure in tourism industry is aught to be increased with public private partnership.

As per the latest government released report, the year 2007 has witnessed a sweeping foreign tourist inflow touching the 5 million mark. Besides, there has been phenomenal explosion in domestic tourism. The recent growth can be well understood with the fact with its rapidly improving infrastructure, particularly transport system in rail, road and air. With the coming of private players into airlines sector, there has been an immediate upsurge in airline hubs throughout the country, which facilitate travel and tourism.

The government promoted “Incredible India” campaign has led to immense interest and awareness and is likely to result in significantly larger numbers of tourists travelling to and within the country. All this requires infrastructure, particularly at the key destinations / circuits.

The prime objective is to ensure that the infrastructure of these mega destinations / circuits is developed to the extent that it can maximize their potential to cater the future tourist inflows so that visitors get a satisfying and memorable experience.

The ministry after consulting with the respective state administration and has so far identified 20 projects in the initial phase and in near future more visiting places will be included to the list on the basis of arrival of tourist.

Under the new initiatives the Ministry of Tourism will provide financial assistance up to Rs. 25 crore for development of mega destination and Rs.50 crore for a mega circuit.

The Ministry has already sanctioned Rs.102 crore for mega projects at Agra, Varanasi-Sarnath, Bodhgaya-Rajgir-Nalanda, and Illumination of monuments of Delhi, Mahabalipuram, Kurukshetra and Charminar area of Hyderabad.

Government has also taken up the development issues with the Ministries of Civil Aviation, Railways and Road Transport and Highways for upgradation / modernisation of airports, increasing of air seat capacities, improving and modernisation of railway stations, improved rail connectivity and improved linkage of these places with national / state highways.

Better infrastructure is not only a bid to catch up in attracting more and more holiday-goers but will lead to overall economic development and employment generation in and around these places.